Carlow make disappointing exit from Tailteann Cup
Paddy McDonnell is tackled by Leitrim's Conor Reynolds Photo: Pat Ahern
Leitrim got revenge for their NFL 4 mauling in Carlow when they showed Carlow the Tailteann Cup exit at Heartland Credit Union Sean Mac Diarmada Park on Saturday.
Carlow got off to a solid start with Adam McCarron on target with a two-point free after Leitrim were guilty of a breach offence. Paddy McDonnell and Conor Crowley also raised white flags before Paul Honeyman got the home side off the mark with a point after he found himself in behind the Carlow defence.
Padhraig Bolger added another two-pointer from play and while Ross Dunphy also raised an orange flag, Leitrim were getting more into the game. Their confidence levels seemed to rise while Carlow’s receded. All the home starting forwards in the full-forward line scored from play while Riordan O’Rourke and Mark Diffley were also on target in that opening period.
With seconds to go to the half-time hooter, Leitrim played possession football and went for their score right on the mark when Riordan O’Rourke’s point reduced the Carlow advantage to 0-9 to 0-6 at the interval.
While a McCarron pointed free saw the visitors draw first blood in the second half, Leitrim took a foothold and playing with the breeze, goalkeeper, Killian Gaffey landed a two-point free and Paul Honeyman also scored three two-pointers from play.
Sandwiched in there was a Carlow goal when Lee Walker poked home from close range. That restored the Carlow advantage by a point but again Leitrim pushed on when Gaffey added another two-point free with 21 minutes left.
The game died in its intensity as the home side did enough to keep a moderate distance between the sides.
Gaffey fired over two 45s and Conor Quinn squandered a Leitrim goal chance but still managed to register a point as Leitrim limited Carlow chances at the other end to run out deserving winners.
P Honeyman 0-8 (3-2ps 2-45s), K Gaffey 0-6 (2-2pfs, 2 45s), Ryan O’Rourke (1f), C Quinn 0-2 each, O McLoughlin, M Diffley, Riordan O’Rourke, K Keegan 0-1 each.
R Dunphy 0-4 (1-2p, f), P Bolger 0-3 (1-2p), A McCarron 0-3 (1-2pf f), L Walker 1-0, P McDonnell 0-2, C Crowley 0-1.
Killian Gaffey; Arek Oberwan, Conor Reynolds, Sean Harkin; Eoin McLoughlin, Mark Diffley, Keith Keegan; Conor Quinn, Kieran Clancy, Fergal McLoughlin, Ben Guckian, Riordan O’Rourke; Paul Honeyman, Ryan O’Rourke, Oisin McLoughlin. Subs: Jack Kelly for Guckian (53), Ruairi O’Rourke for F McLoughlin (57), Eanna McNamara for Harkin (63), Tom Plunkett for O McLoughlin (64), James Rooney for E McLoughlin (66).
Ben McCarron; Niall Roche, Dara Curran, Lee Moore; John Phiri, Colin Byrne, Padhraig Bolger; Conor Doyle, Mark Furey; Adam McCarron, Paddy McDonnell, Jamie Clarke; Conor Crowley, Ross Dunphy, Lee Walker. Subs: Adam Burgess for Moore (47), Kyle Nolan for Walker (47), Chris Blake for A McCarron (51), Shane Clarke for Roche (56), Liam Gavin for Bolger (61).
Referee: Liam Devenney (Mayo)
